Hello everyone, I'm on Beresford Key on the south
Hello everyone, I'm on Beresford Key on the south banks of the River Liffey and as you can see day two of the national fuel protest and Beresford Key and all the keys on the River Liffey are shut down both sides and the north side as well. And just O'Connell Bridge shut down Westmoreland Street, Pearse Street and O'Connell Street for the second day. This is great major disruption around various locations around Ireland up to 28 locations I understand that people have.
Taken to the streets and have had enough of the outrageous price hikes in fuel over the last number of weeks. Now, today's government's response has been pathetic for a more early. They can intervene now and cap prices, tackle the fuel oligarchs and of course Micheál Martin brought forward legislation back in 2007 under the Consumer Protection Act which would have afforded him the privilege of capping prices, but no, they're not interested in that.
They're off on their holidays. It's all isn't even debating these issues. And Martin and his ilk have responded to say that this is unacceptable to what's happening in Dublin and he said O'Connell Street should not be turned into a car park. But maybe he should look at the M50 every day if he wants to look at car parks and maybe he should look at his government's policies for years and years which has run down O'Connell Street into.
Essentially a no-go zone and left many places of Dublin's inner city in crisis point well in advance of what's taking place over the last number of years as well. But Martin won't be interested in that. He wants to just deflect blame from his government's inaction to people who are peacefully assembling. And as you can see right across the river here you see tractors trucks cars parked up here as well.
And so many people who have had enough of fair play everybody has come out and all those protests right across Ireland. At the same time as I said the political response has been nothing short of pathetic and more gaslighting come from political establishment. Leo Varadkar said it wasn't acceptable and he said that they negotiate only with proper organizations such as the Irish Road Haulage Association which hasn't supported this protest. So he's given little sideline deals and.
This is what the government does rather than address
This is what the government does rather than address the crisis facing ordinary working people and small businesses. They're trying to buy people, buy certain sectors off and at the same time say they won't negotiate with people. Really just absolutely disgraceful. What would you expect from an Irish political establishment that don't represent, do not serve the people of Ireland. As I said many said politicians have come out and said we have to work together on this people like Seán Canney.
Who recently said we have to take the bicycle to work and walk to work as well. At the same time let's look at a bit of the response from the so-called unions and some which were standing up for the workers. They have typically betrayed the working classes for many many years. The latest comments from their head of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions only are nothing short of breathtaking. He said that this strike action isn't following the following the.
Normal protocols where they have to ballot members they have to give seven days notice and maybe employers can then or the government can take them to the High Court and create an injunction on people workers protesting. So this is what's coming from your so-called trade union movement a billion miles away from the trade union movement of Connolly and Larkin. And the fighting trade union workers who look down the keys here down towards Liberty Hall. And so much for those.
Who have sold out the people of Ireland where they are completely compromised part of the political system. And it's interesting when you hear the commentary around what's taking place in Ireland particularly on the media airwaves and people are complaining because they're missing appointments and so forth as well. What if the government responded to people protesting well then perhaps there would be some sort of form of resolution on this.
But today they haven't even picked up the phone and as they've said they just treat ordinary people ordinary working people with utter and sheer contempt. But what's new with your Irish political establishment that represents Brussels represent Washington D.C. and they're not serve the interests of people. As I said earlier they can intervene on what's taking place currently. They have legislation currently there. They can tackle the massive massive windfall profits being made by the fuel oligarchs.
They can of course make us energy resilient and
They can of course make us energy resilient and energy secure. But they have no interest in doing that because that doesn't go well with their European masters and the so-called market that they support at every turn. Already we've seen more and more people as I said hit the streets right out right across Ireland and that's great to see. And at the same time political parties are trying to jump on the bandwagon in relation to this as.
Well. Many of those themselves who have supported many tax increases such as carbon tax increases and now they're trying to claim that they're standing with the people. That's why it's very important that real change does come from the streets, it comes from communities, it comes from towns, it comes from villages, it comes from people coming together and empowering ourselves to take charge of our own destiny.
And if you look at the Irish Constitution it says nothing about political parties. And this system has been completely subverted by these political party systems which have become something greater than private members clubs that serve their own interests and the interests of the corporations and the very wealthy while ordinary working people are suffering. And they'll be propped up by their media friends. They'll be propped up by many commentators who continue to support their policies and say.
"Well, we're all in this together, put your shoulder to the wheel, it's the national interest." And whose interest really is it all about? It's not about the interests of ordinary working class people or ordinary people who are suffering because of the fallout of what's taking place. As we look down towards the Custom House there you see people assembling down here also and buses are going in here. So much for the trade union movement coming out to support.
The grassroots protests. No interest have they. Absolutely no interest because they're as I said they're part of the system, completely compromised. They have to follow due process and proper protocols rather than take direct action. As I said earlier change comes from ordinary people organizing together. Comes from below. And that's where change happens. And that's why it's critically important now more than ever to take power back to our communities.
“Absolutely no interest because they're as I said they're part of the system, completely compromised”
And people have a say, talk about the issues
And people have a say, talk about the issues that impact all of our daily lives. And now more than ever in the context of the drive towards totalitarianism we see right across the European Union. Already they're doing the videos on digital ID. Government have pushed that out to say it's for your safety and your for your convenience. And at the same time we know what this fundamentally serves. To stand here under the statue of James Connolly.
And this is modern day Ireland. Next to it tents. So there you have it. It's an unacceptable, isn't it? It's unacceptable Micheál Martin to what Dublin's become. It's unacceptable to what Ireland's become. Under your watch for many many years and successive governments that have led to this. And in concert with many of those who claim to serve ordinary working class people such as across the street.
You know what Connolly would make of today in terms of advancing the rights of the working class, cost of labor and the cause of Ireland. But what's fascinating with this whole conversation around this is the usual divide and conquer tactics, divide and rule tactics and trying to push people together. Trying to negotiate with trusted people that they're on their side as they can all meet in their boardrooms, have nice cozy conversations and come out and preach down to the.
Workers and say we have a deal. This is the best you can do while more money gets funneled to upwards across Ireland to those who are wealthiest. And at the same time, we have a union movement, which is the same as here. We're accepting those who are located here. We all know about their involvement with the Labour Party. Labour Party who are a neoliberal party to the core. Pro EU neoliberalism also. And it drove Of course, at the same time, a drive.
Towards authoritarianism. And they're not speaking out on these issues. They're not speaking out on the homelessness. And we're taking place right under their own nose and they're endorsing it. So, no comfort here gaslighting with the Irish government, the political establishment, or the media. This is the reality of what's taking place. I'm straight to see people taking care taking charge and taking charge of their own destiny. And it's critically important in terms of policy the state should derive from the.
People
People. Not from any institution or the institutions that portray themselves as being so-called democratic and completely rigged serve the interests of the ruling classes across Ireland. So, uh today, thanks so much for your support. Please share my videos. Please give your support to those who are standing up for all of us right across the country with those field protests. So, take care and as long as hope Dublin today. Bye-bye.
